Austin boasts a smorgasbord of activities, dining and entertainment, but it ain’t always cheap to be a social butterfly in this town. We hunted down the best deals around, whether you’re looking for live music, a refuge from the heat or a late-night bite. Going out just became a whole lot cheaper thanks to these local picks that promise a good time—all for under $10.
It’s a riot!: The Coldtowne Theatre troop hosts Movie Riot every Friday, an event where they create improvised movies on stage for your viewing pleasure. There are free margaritas, popcorn and movie candy—and if margs aren’t your thing, you can also BYOB. Tickets are $8 online, $10 at the door.
Get nostalgic at Pinballz Arcade: On Friday and Saturday nights—when there's no cover!—head on over to Pinballz Arcade to play classic video games or to try your hand at their cavalcade of pinball machines. The combination of nostalgic games and BYOB is everything your inner child’s been craving.
Karaoke at Ego's: Looking to belt out some tunes? Head to Ego’s on South Congress, where every day they have free karaoke from 9pm-2am. Drinks are cheap and the location draws prime people-watching. Get there early because the slots fill up fast.
Take a tour of the Mexic-Arte Museum: Sometimes overshadowed by the nearby contemporary museum, the Mexic-Arte Museum is one of the most worthwhile stops in downtown Austin, showcasing traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latino art and culture. Admission is only $5, but the museum is free on Sundays and throughout December.
Emo night at Barbarella: Every Wednesday, let your inner emo kid come out at Barbarella’s Jimmy Eat Wednesday, when there’s no cover and the DJ plays all the jams that will have you reaching for your eyeliner. Get our your studded belt and black jeans and spend the night screaming out every line of “Welcome to the Black Parade” with a hundred of your closest friends.
I Luv Free Beer: Check out I Luv Video (on both Airport Blvd and Guadalupe St) on Tuesday nights, when they serve free beer to 21+ customers. Rent a video and peruse the self-proclaimed oldest and largest video store in the world.
BBQ brunch at Corner Bar: Get your brunch and BBQ on at Corner Bar on South Lamar. On Sundays, they serve free BBQ plates starting at 3pm (until sold out). All you need is a $10 bar tab to claim your brisket.
Trivia and Bingo at Blue Owl: For the first time in Austin, you can play both trivia and bingo simultaneously on Fridays at 7pm. Blue Owl Brewing hosts this free-to-play fusion where the bingo cards feature album covers—and instead of calling numbers, the MC plays audio clips.
Dog Days at Black Sheep Lodge: On Tuesdays, grab your pup and go to Black Sheep Lodge where they serve various dog-friendly treats like peanut butter pupsicles for 50 cents. For their human counterparts, they’re grilling $3 hotdogs and burgers, and $5 chicken breasts.
Bluegrass at Radio Coffee and Beer: Make a beeline for Radio Coffee on Monday nights where, from 8-11:33pm, they feature world-class string players playing old bluegrass standards. Feel free to put on your dancing shoes.
Stop and smell the flowers at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Channel your inner Alice and visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where native plants and trails will make you believe Wonderland is in your backyard. Admission is just $10.
Yoga in the Park: Every Monday night, the Austin Parks Foundation hosts free yoga at the Givens Recreation Center. Led by certified yoga instructors, all you have to do is bring your own mat and find inner peace (easy, right?).
Master a DIY project at Craft: You can finally conquer all those Pinterest projects that you’ve been putting off during Craft's walk-in hours. Sip a glass of wine while you paint, embroider, sew or stamp your heart away. It’s $10 per hour for their walk-in studio but they do offer workshops for folks who desire more direction.
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